Posted on Jan 1, 2018
Whats the best MOS for a high school graduate that can lead to a good civilian salary?
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Transition
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Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 54
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Barry Bob Forget about what you can make after you get out. Concentrate on finding a MOS that you enjoy and then the money doesn't matter so much!
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PO2 Mike Shorey
That has to be the dumbest thing I’ve seen in awhile. We all want to enjoy our job while serving, but the OP is asking for recommendations for a MOS that not only translates to a civilian career, but also pays well.
I can’t believe this got 10 “likes.”
I’m sure no one is advocating for the OP to take a job that sucks but pays well.
I can’t believe this got 10 “likes.”
I’m sure no one is advocating for the OP to take a job that sucks but pays well.
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SPC Diana D.
PO2 Mike Shorey - Was only trying to give him somewhere to start looking. It is hard to tell him what MOS is better because we won't know what he might have qualified for according to his ASVABS.
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They're all good ones! Supply, logistics, maintenance even Engineering MOS's would. E good if you're trying to go straight from the service to a job within your first enlistment. A number of us had more than "one" job while in the service. You'll get outta your service what you put into it! Get degrees and certifications while you're in service it'll hold you in good stead throughout your adult/ work life. Most of all don't be afraid or averse to getting dirty and do every task possible to the best of your ability. In the beginning I went from Being a Field Artillery Officer directing indirect fire to being responsible for production than sanitation at a poultry plant that processed a million 300,000 chickens a week. You learn and grow be a life long learner it'll pay better in the long run!
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SGT Warren Mayberry
I would temper the Colonel's comment by saying that it depends on whether you intend to enlist as an officer or regular enlisted. With the degree in hand as a commissioned officer many doors would already be open to you as most degree required jobs are using the college degree as a gat
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Selecting an MOS by potential civilian salary is ill advised and destined for disaster. Remember, you have to perform that job, potentially for a very long time. You may want to look at what you like doing or could get into that you could stick with.
You could use the DOL salary comparison tool and look to see what the current average min and mix salaries are by region or nationally. It will also tell you the put look for the next 7-10 years. Then you can use the DOL conversion tools to cross walk the MOS to a civilian career.
Transportation, Maintenance and Logistics (Army 88 series, 92series, 91 series, 42series) includes truck drivers, transportation coordinators, cargo transfer specialists, water craft operators, food service, mortuary affairs, riggers, automated logistics specialists, fuel specialists, postal specialists, diesel mechanics, allied trades, electronics repair, power generation among others)
HVAC Technician for commercial and residential systems (may be an AF or Navy career field)
Licensed plumbers (Army 12 series, analogous AF and Navy CFs)
Licensed electricians (Army 12 series, analogous AF and Navy CFs)
Certified welding (Army 91 series, welders and machinists, analogous AF, Navy, and USMC CFs)
Air Traffic Control (three branches for sure, maybe all)
Calibration of test measurement and diagnostic equipment TMDE (Army 35H, USMC, Navy, and AF have similar CF)
Small Arms Repairer (Army 91 series)
Prime Power (12E USACE specific)
In general a specific license or set of certifications will be the key to succeeding in certain civilian careers. This question is a mile wide and a mile deep.
Life is too short to do things purely for monetary reasons
You could use the DOL salary comparison tool and look to see what the current average min and mix salaries are by region or nationally. It will also tell you the put look for the next 7-10 years. Then you can use the DOL conversion tools to cross walk the MOS to a civilian career.
Transportation, Maintenance and Logistics (Army 88 series, 92series, 91 series, 42series) includes truck drivers, transportation coordinators, cargo transfer specialists, water craft operators, food service, mortuary affairs, riggers, automated logistics specialists, fuel specialists, postal specialists, diesel mechanics, allied trades, electronics repair, power generation among others)
HVAC Technician for commercial and residential systems (may be an AF or Navy career field)
Licensed plumbers (Army 12 series, analogous AF and Navy CFs)
Licensed electricians (Army 12 series, analogous AF and Navy CFs)
Certified welding (Army 91 series, welders and machinists, analogous AF, Navy, and USMC CFs)
Air Traffic Control (three branches for sure, maybe all)
Calibration of test measurement and diagnostic equipment TMDE (Army 35H, USMC, Navy, and AF have similar CF)
Small Arms Repairer (Army 91 series)
Prime Power (12E USACE specific)
In general a specific license or set of certifications will be the key to succeeding in certain civilian careers. This question is a mile wide and a mile deep.
Life is too short to do things purely for monetary reasons
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LTC Jason Mackay
US DOL career one stop. https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Wages/find-salary.aspx
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PO2 Mike Shorey
It’s a good idea to at least consider this before picking a MOS. It is ill advised to choose your job based solely on prospective salaries. It’s also ill advised to ignore it.
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LTC Jason Mackay
PO2 Mike Shorey - of course, what I was trying to caution against was picking something out of a hat based on dollars and not on your knowledge, skills, abilities, and what you are passionate about. It takes a tremendous amount of energy and resources to restart a career or a new career. Especially if you have that epiphany whilst married, with children, and obligations.
Picking 88N because the civilian equivalent pays good...you get it, then you are terrible at it because you loath each day because you hate it. Now you have to reset to something else. That's all I was getting at.
Picking 88N because the civilian equivalent pays good...you get it, then you are terrible at it because you loath each day because you hate it. Now you have to reset to something else. That's all I was getting at.
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